Shrub cutter



` y Amig. 20, l1. 'l J. J. ZIMMERMAN SHRUB CUTTER.

' FileaNov. 1o, 1958 3mm. JeZz'mmerma/w www Patented Aug. 20, 1940 UNITED ASTATES- Pa'rls1-1s11 l OFFICE Y 5 Claims.

` This invention relates to an improved cutter for shrubbery, which is particularly adapted for trimming hedges.

More particularly, it is an aim of this inven- 5 tion to provide a manually operated shrub cutter of the reciprocating type having means for mounting the cutter at `a predetermined height so that the hedge or shrubbery to be trimmed will be cut to a uniform height.

More particularly, it is an aim of this invention to provide a cutter comprising reciprocating cutting bars having means for manually moving one of said cutter bars, in one direction relatively to the other cutter bar, and spring means for i returning said cutter bar to its original position to thereby impart a reciprocating motion thereto.

Still a further aim of the invention, is to provide a. post on which the cutting element may be adjustably mounted, said post having means l) at one end for embeddingit in the earth to a predetermined depth, and'means on the opposite end for revolving the post to revolve the cutting element.

Other objects and advantages of the invention 25 will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof, and

wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention,

80 Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken alon the line 2--2 of Figure l,

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a'horizontal sectional view taken $6 along the line 4-4 of Figure 2. l

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like or correspondingr parts throughout, I designates generally a post which is provided with the point- 40 ed lower end' II and the annular outwardly projecting flange I2 adjacent said end. Post I0 is preferably calibrated in feet, as indicated at I3, and is provided at its opposite end with an' enlargedV head forming the handle I4. Head I4 is 45 preferably provided with an internally threaded bore to removably engage the reduced threaded upper end of the post I0, as seen in dotted lines in Figure 1, so that cutter I5 may be removed when the device is stored.

A reciprocating cutter, designated generally I5, comprises the lower cutter bar I6 and the upper cutter bar I1. Cutter bar I'I at onev end is elongated and provided with the socket I8 disposed transversely thereto to slidably engage the shank 66 of the post I0. A set'screw I9 is mounted in the socket I8 to adjustably secure it relatively to the post. This elongated end of the bar I1-is also recessed at 2| to receive a conventional liquid level gauge designated 22. 'I'he bar I1 adjacent itsI ends is provided with threaded openings 23 and intermediate of its ends with the longitudinally disposed recess 24. f y

'Ihe upper cutter bar I6 is provided with the dep'endinganger 25v intermediate ofv its ends, which fits into the recess 24, and which as seen in Figure 2 is of a length substantially less than that of the recess. The Width of the recess 24 is just sufficient to slidably mount the flange 25. Bar I6 is also provided with the longitudinal slots 26, adjacent its opposite ends, through which extend the bolts 2l which engage the threaded openings 23 in the bar I1 to connect the cutting bars. It will thus be seen that the cutting bars I6 and I'I are slidably mounted relatively to each other by meansof the bolts 2'I which slidably engage the slots 26 and the flange 25 Which slidably engages recess 24.

A pair of eyebolts 28 and 29 are mounted in` and project 'upwardly from the bar I6, between'v the slots 26 and adjacent thereto. Tothe eyebolt 29, which is disposed adjacent to the post I8, is connected a chain' 30 having a handle 3| at its free, end. A contractile coil spring 32 is connecte ed at one end to the eyebolt 28.and at itsopposite endv to the bolt 21 adjacent theretov and this spring normally holds the bar I6 in a retracted position or away from the post IIJ, as seen inFiguresland 2. 'I

Bar I6 is provided, along one of its longitudinal edges, with ther .row of outwardly projecting spaced cutting teeth 33, which are pointed at their free ends, as seen at 34, and which are beveledl on their upper sides and along the left side of each tooth to provide the cutting edges 35. Teeth 33 are removably secured to the bar I6 by the fastenings 36, which may be in the form of rivets.` C'utter bar I'I along its corresponding edge is provided lwith the outwardly projecting teeth 3'I which are beveled along their underside and at-` their right` edges, notshown, to provide the cut-f ting edges 38 to col-act with the cutting edges 35 of teeth 33 when the bar IB is moved toward the post I0. Teeth 3l are likewise secured to bar I'I by corresponding fastenings 36, and as seen in Figure 3, bars I6 and I1 are provided with the recesses 39 in which the teeth 33 and 3'I seat and by means of which they are prevented from turning relatively to the bars I6 and II while secured thereto.

From the foregoing it will be seen, that the pointed end II of the post I0 may be driven into the earth up to the flange I2 .and it is intended that for example, in cutting hedges, that the post I0 be disposed lbetween the opposite sides o-f the hedge after which screw I9 may be loosened to adjust the cutter I5 to the desired height, at which the hedge is to be cut, as indicated by the calibrations I3, after which the screw is tightened to clamp socket I8 to the shank of the post Il). The operator will preferably grasp the handle I4 with one hand and the handle 3I with the other and by pulling on handle 3I draw the cutter bar I6 toward the post Ill so that the cutting edges 35 and 38 of the teeth 33 and 31, respectively, will be caused to co-act in the usual manner to cut the shrubbery. When bar I6 has reached its fully projected position, as seen in Figure 4, the pressure on chain 3U is released to allow the spring 32 to return bar I6 to its retracted position, as seen in Figure 1, in which position the teeth 3l are disposed directly beneath the teeth 33.y This operation is continued to impart a reciprocating motion to the bar I6, and simultaneously therewith, post I 0 is slowly revolved to revolve the cutter I5. In this manner, a circular cut can be made after which the portion of the hedge between the bars I6 and I1 and thepost I0 may be cut by moving the post slightly. This operation is continued until the top of the whole hedge has been trimmed, and it will be noted that by embedding point II each time to flange l2 the top of the hedge will be cut to the same height throughout its length and to further insure leveling the hedge post I0 may be adjusted until the gauge 22 is centered. After the top of the hedge has been cut post I0 is positio-ned horizontally above the hedge withfthe cutter I5 disposed at one side thereof and operated in this manner for trimming the sides o-f the hedge. The device is also intended for use in trimming other shrubbery in a similar manner.

Various modifications and changes in the construction and arrangement of the parts forming the invention are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, and the right is therefore expressly reserved to make such changes as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter dened by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A shrub cutter comprising a pair of cutter bars reciprocally mounted relatively to each other and provided with interacting cutting teeth, manual .and spring means for imparting a reciprocating motion to one of said cutter bars relatively to the other cutter bar, a post for supporting the cutter bars, said last mentioned cutter bar being provided with an elongated end having means for adjustably attaching it to said post, and said post having a pointed end to engage' the earth and a handle on its other end for turning the post to swing the cutter bars in substantially a horizontal plane.

2. A hedge trimmer comprising a'post having means for embedding one of its ends in the earth to a predetermined distance to mount the post in an upright position, the shank of said post being calibrated in feet, cutting means comprising a pair of cutting bars, one of said cutting bars having an elongated end provided with a socket and setscrew for adjustably mounting it on said post and at substantially a right angle thereto, said other cutting bar being reciprocally mounted relatively to said first mentioned cutting bar, manual means for moving said last mentioned cutting `bar in one direction, contractile spring means for moving the cutting bar inthe opposite direction and for co-acting with said manual means for imparting a reciprocating motion to said last mentioned cutting bar, .and a handle on the opposite end of the post for turning it to swing the cutting means in substantially a horizontal plane with the post as an axis.

3. Adevice as in claim 2, said post embedding means comprising a pointed end adapted to be driven into the earth `and a flanger adjacent said end for limiting the depthto which the postcan be embedded. v

4. In a shrub cutter, a post having one end ta.- pered to a point to be driven into the earth, a flange adjacent saidend to limit the depth to whichthe end can be embedded and to retain the post in substantially an upright position; a cutter comprising upper and lower cutter bars provided with co-acting teeth along their` corresponding leading edges,the lower cutter bar being elongated, at one end, to extend beyond the upper cutter bar, said end having asocket, for slidably engaging thepost, a set screw forr adjustably clamping the socket relatively to .the post for supporting the cutter thereon, means (for slidably mounting the upper cutter bar on the lower cutter bar, a handle connectedtov the upper cutter bar, a contractile spring connected to the upper and lower cutter bars; said handle and spring forming a comb-ined manual and automatic means yfor reciprocating the upper cutter bar; anda knob on the opposite end of the post for turning the post to revolve the cutter in sub-` stantially a horizontal vplane with thefpost ,as its axis. 1 Y

5. A device as in claim 4, the teeth of thelower cutter bar having substantially parallel opposite edges and outer ends disposed substantially at right angles thereto, a corresponding longitudinal edge of each tooth being beveled on its underside to form a cutting edge, and the teeth ofthe upper cutter bar having corresponding spaced substantially parallel longitudinal edges, said edges being tapered to a point beyond the ends of the teeth of the lower cutter bar, each of said upper teeth having a longitudinal Vedge beveled on its-upper side to yform arcutting edge, the cutting edges of the teeth of thel upper cutter barv being on'the opposite side to the cutting edges of the teeth of the lower cutter bar, and the teeth of the lowerA cutter bar being Ldisposed. beneath the teeth of the upper cutter bar when the bars are in a normal, idle position.

JAMES J.. ZIi/IMERMAN. 

